Beneath and Beyond

The deepest depths of the sea. Far-flung reaches of outer space. A space disco.

Quite a curious recipe for a performance.

This production is unlike anything else I've seen.

Usually,when a reviewer says that, it’s code that means, ‘The performance is a nonsensical mess.’ That’s not the case with Beneath and Beyond.

Your preparation for the experience starts in the foyer. A DVD of underwater scenes hints at what will happen when you walk through the theatre door.

What’s more, the DVD neatly links deep sea and outer space with the presentation of a curious fact: more humans have been to the moon than have been to the deepest parts of the sea.

The title – Beneath and Beyond – tells you exactly what happens. First, you get immersed in life deep underwater. Then, thanks to a clear transition, you get carried off to another planet somewhere in outer space.

The best way I can describe what happens is comparing it to cooking. Lots of ingredients come together to make something magical: Pippa Bainbridge’s sound design, Melanie Liertz and Bronwyn Pringle’s special design, and the performances, especially Jack Beeby as the alien.

The show’s target audience is kids. If you have kids, make sure they see it as they’ll find the experience unforgettable.

But even if you’re not a kid, come and see Beneath and Beyond. As my plus-one put it, ‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.’ Unless you go back again the next night.

Daniel G. Taylor